Arsenal midfielder Matteo Guendouzi could be facing an FA charge and potential ban after grabbing Brighton and Hove Albion’s match winner Neal Maupay by the throat in Saturday’s Premier League game at the Amex.
It incident came after Guendouzi had a running battle with Maupay who was accused by Arsenal keeper Bernd Leno of causing his knee injury which led to him being stretchered off.
Leno, who is now facing a lengthy lay-off with a serious knee ligament injury, pointed the finger at Maupay after he pushed him and caused him to land awkwardly.
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Football Association chiefs are waiting to see whether the row is included in referee Martin Atkinson’s report before deciding if they will take action.
The FA could still step in even if it was not seen and take retrospective action by charging Guendouzi which could lead to a fine and suspension.
But it would seem highly likely that Guendouzi gets charged unless Atkinson says he saw the incident and decided not to take action.
Under the FA’s fast track process, Guendouzi could even be banned before Thursday’s trip to Southampton.
Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta cleared Maupay of doing it deliberately but the players were incensed and Guendouzi was fuming throughout the game.
Maupay fell to the floor after another incident during the game but TV replays showed that Guendouzi poked him in the stomach.
But the bust-up at the end of the game following Maupay’s winner for Brighton in the the 2-1 win incensed Arsenal and led to Guendouzi having a row.
Maupay said afterwards: “Some of the Arsenal players need to learn humility maybe sometimes. They were talking a lot, particularly one of them.
“I’m sorry about what happened to Bernd Leno, I never meant to hurt him. I wish him a speedy recovery.”
